“Polar Plunge,” somewhere near the Antarctic Circle
Sea days aboard the Seabourn Quest are truly relaxing. After 15 or so days into this voyage I have grown to relish the days which occur between stops at either ports or landings by zodiac. They are referred to “sea days” because no one leaves the ship. On these days there is no schedule, and yet a plethora of things exist to do. A good many memorable experiences happen on sea days. Some of these activities involve some day drinking (as in alcohol), but none more so than Seabourn’s version of the “polar plunge.” Also a memorable event.
Let me set the stage for this event which is depicted in the images below. First, the pool is drained of the normally warm (86 degree F) water. Second, frigid water is pumped from the sea to fill the pool. In this case it is Antarctic sea water. The water temperature of the freshly filled pool is now 35 degrees F, or 2 degrees C. The skies were cloudy with a light flurry of snow. The air temperature was 30 degrees F, and the drinks were flowing, especially the vodka shots.
This is the scene prior to the big event. Note the two jacuzzi tubs on the far corners of the pool. These play a critical part of the polar plunge and after party. I believe that there would be far fewer participants if these were not available upon one’s exit from the frigid water in the pool.One of the bar set ups on the pool deck. This one featuring many varieties of ice cold vodkas. The bottles are sitting in ice structures specially formed for this purpose. These Seabourn guys sure know how to throw a party.Like lemmings to the frigid water so are some of my fellow shipmates. Many spectators are viewing and photographing from the Sky Bar on the above deck.Here I am making my first of three plunges. Jumping into the deep-end and fully submerged I didn’t feel the cold for 3 or 4 seconds. Then it gripped me like a vice with teeth. My main motivation for participating in the plunge was that I always wanted to know what Kate and Leo felt like on that ill-fated night in April 1912. Shots delivered to the jacuzzi, just in case you weren’t buzzed from the ice cold plunge. I overheard one of the gentlemen proclaim that he thought that due to the frigid water and his resulting shrinkage, that he wouldn’t be able to find his “junk” for an hour or so. Then I looked around for George Constanza.
Shots all around. My British friend apparently wishing cheers to the photographer capturing this image. It seems the shots are now having an effect. She’s fully in the moment, as was everyone else participating in this crazy activity.
